Next Steps

Scoopler Gives You The Scoop

June 18, 2009 @ 12:42pm

Updated — June 24, 2009 @ 8:43pm

by Mason Razavi

What exactly are real-time search sites? Imagine being able to type in a buzzword, a hot news item, or just any word that could spark a conversation. Then imagine being able to get a real-time stream of information from both major news sources as well as people all around the world.

Now stop imagining. It’s real. And your boss isn’t going to like you sitting around with your eyes closed looking like you need your 3pm shot of java.

I’ve checked out a few of these sites, my favorite so far being Scoopler. A search engine with a clever and dynamic twist, Scoopler will take whatever words you enter into it and pull up relevant articles and videos on the right side of the page while pulling up Twitter feeds on the left side of the page. If you want to see how it works, try typing in a few words related to a hot topic. Simply typing in “Iran” or “Obama” will give you enough information to make your head spin right off your shoulders – in a good way.

If you’re trying to stay abreast with what is going on in Iran, this is an excellent tool. As I mentioned in my last entry, Twitter has become the preferred vehicle of repressed Iranians to spread their word around the globe. By seeing all of the Twitter feeds relevant to the situation all in one place and chock full of links to pictures, videos and articles (oh, and did I mention it updates Twitter feeds in real time?) is juicy enough, but to have all of the coverage from major news sources in an adjacent pane makes for an atmosphere that can only be defined as media-junkie bliss.

Scoopler and other real-time search engines are slightly less exciting when you are searching for anything other than white-hot news. I typed in a few words related to my beloved hockey team, the San Jose Sharks, and got nothing more than a couple of Twitter feeds and a couple of uninteresting articles.

The lesson learned here? Use Scoopler to find out about the latest, most exciting, and most relevant news out there. Give it a shot, I’ll bet you’ll be hooked!